Emanual and Raymond came too.
I didn’t want to speak to him tonight. He was on Team Blake through and through. I hated that so much.
Queen Margerite gave the nicest speech and I received so many birthday presents I thought it must be Christmas.
It wasn’t so bad.
Becky kept bringing the shooters.
I kept drinking them.
Then Cheng showed up. I’d really missed him so much.
We all partied the night through.
At twelve it was a miracle that I was still aware of what was going on around me.
I blew out the candles and danced.
Everyone danced with me.
Emanual, Raymond, Cheng, Dean, Raymond, Cheng, Cheng and Emanual.
When the song was over I went to the bar.
Emanual followed me like a puppy.
“You enjoying your birthday?”
“Yes, I am. Thank you.”
“I’m glad that you are letting yourself have fun, Elena.”
I shrugged.
“Sir Robert is getting antsy.”
“About what?”
“Blake is about to break his record, he’s trying all sorts of tactics. He was begging me to speak to you tonight.”
“To do what?”
“To help him so Blake doesn’t break his record.”
“Wrong girl, Emanual.” I hated where this conversation was heading.
“Elena, you need to forgive him. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Oh and how do you know? Were you there?”
“No, I believe Blake. He said you did walk in on something awkward that he was trying to deal with, get out of his room actually ‘cause she was extremely drunk, but you didn’t give him the time to explain.”
“No, because he ran away, like always.”
“He didn’t run away, Elena.”
“Then why didn’t he fight with me?”
He smiled. “I told him that he should’ve stayed and fought, but how could he when you ordered him to leave you alone?”
“I never ordered him…wait, what?”
Emanual laughed. “Maybe not what you meant at that precise moment Elena, but your words bound him to stay away from you. It hurt every time he tried to get close to you. He didn’t run. He couldn’t come near you.”
“I hate you. Why did you tell me this?” I yelled at him. “You are ruining everything!”
“Elena!” Emanual yelled after me as I ran out of the function without Becky and Sammy. She could get drunk without me.
I had said those words. I’d ordered him to stay away from me. I remembered that now so clearly.
It’s why he left, because of what I said. Something I said I would never do.
I took a cab back to Lucille’s and thanked the heavens I had a key. I opened the door without waking Rosa and stumbled to my room.
I wanted to cry.
I was so stupid. Not because I wanted to believe him, but because of Emanual. He always found ways to make me feel so small, so stupid.
I picked up Blake’s journal again and paged to the last poem I read.
The next poem was dedicated to Lucian.
Tears already welled up. I knew he’d struggled with his death, he still did.
Lucian my dear friend
This is by no means the end
I will see you again one day
I still feel you here in a way
You never gave up on me
Even when I told you to let me be
A lot has happened since you've been gone
I'm sorry I couldn't save you, I was wrong.
Selfish, ignorant, aggressive sure
But you were not like that, you're so pure
So today I promise you, making a vow
I'll do what’s right, some way, somehow
I'll try to make everything again all right
I won't give into darkness, I'm keeping the fight
I'm making you proud until I see you again
With your guiding spirit that will always remain
I cried like an idiot as his words were just so sad. Even though this poem felt totally in the wrong place, I had an idea where he was in space. Stop rhyming Elena.
I blew out some air. It explained why he was so deranged that day when he told me that he was going to fight, but he hadn’t written this with the other poems he’d written from that time. Why was it here, in this stage? It didn’t make any sense and I turned the page around. I read a couple of other poems.
Searching, seeking, sacred soul,
She has gone, leaving a hole
Fire burns within my heart.
I need you now, I’ve come apart.
You are now the best of me.
Please come back and you will see.
Lovers’ quarrel never last.
I’ll bring you back
It’s my forecast.
Searching, seeking, until I’m done.
Never resting until I’ve won.
I read a couple more. It was all melting my heart. He was so different here, and it must’ve been after he woke up and I was gone. I should’ve stopped reading these poems, as I knew what they were going to do. But I couldn’t. I kept reading them.
All of them were about how my leaving made him feel. How he never gave up that there was another dark one. How he would tear souls apart for ever doing that to me.
It scared me again, but this time it wasn’t directed at me, it was at Billy and Seymour. I really felt so sorry for them when he finally found those assholes.
The poems that followed were all sad. About how I ignored him and they made me cry again.
He wasn’t showing this to me, he was always somewhere in the background though, spying on me, making sure I was okay, that I was safe and secure. No wonder he called his creation that.
Even though I didn’t want him near me, he didn’t care, in a small creepy kind of way. It was all here, his words, coming from his heart.
Then I found the two last poems. One of them was dedicated to me, directly.
Love, come be still
Within my arms of lovers will
I need you more than you'll ever know
The light in me is sure to grow
I need you now,
I'll make things right
For your presence I’m sure to fight
You keep my dark demons at bay
Your purity, your innocence makes me stay
Oh my love, come be still
I'll keep you safe, always have, always will.
I couldn’t read anymore. I shouldn’t, I took a deep breath. It was already way too late. I knew nothing happened that night Tabitha was there, and I was doing this to him all over again. He was going to grow tired of this shit soon and then what? I would lose my poet with words that made not just old ladies cry, but young ones too. I should apologize to him, but how? I hadn’t spoken to him in almost eight weeks.
Not once.
I sniffed and read the last poem. I kept reading the words over and over. My entire body just succumbed with this poem.
Was this about what I thought it was? The Denting process….
What did his words meant? I knew what he was saying, but it must be symbolic, as none of this was making any sense whatsoever and he confirmed it still in the next line.
I closed his book as it was the last poem and just thought about those two lines for a long time.
It took me back to that day he couldn’t get a hold of me. It was after we freed the first ten from Etan.
He said that if he told me what the Dent means, I would have the same life I had with Jako. I didn’t know what he meant then, but now thinking about it, it made sense.
He knew. But how?
And then something inside of me just happened. It was hard to explain. There was no more doubt. Nothing.
It’s not a spell, he’d told me this over and over again.
I took a huge breath and let it out fast�
��tears still welled up in my eyes.
It didn’t matter anymore. I knew what I was going to do. I’d always known it the minute I carried on reading all his poems.
I missed him so much now.
I didn’t care anymore and I fell asleep with the book cradled in my arms.
Emanual and Tabitha were right. I was a stupid, stupid idiot. No more.
WHEN I WORK up I couldn’t stop thinking about his poems and I didn’t want to part with them, but I knew I had to. I had no choice.
I could always ask him to write more poems, just for me.
It sounded like a Shakespeare story in the making, although Shakespeare did love his tragedies. Ours could still end in a tragedy.
I sighed. Who could’ve known that a poetry book could do that to someone?
I had breakfast and then I tried to phone Blake. My heart cringed, as there wasn’t even a ring tone.
So I phoned Sir Robert.
“Happy Birthday, Princess,” he spoke as his holograph appeared. He was sitting in some sort of an office.
“Thank you, Sir Robert. Is Blake there?”
He smiled. “No, but he is going to break my record in the next twenty four hours.”
I laughed. “I heard. I still don’t know what record you are talking about.”
“The one that I’ve held for more than a hundred years.”
“Let me guess, that is not good?”
“Not at all. I’m the leader of the Dragon League, what would it look like if my own son broke my record on his first try?”
“He is the Rubicon.”
“Still, not a good thing for me, Elena.”
“I’m sure you will find a way.”
“I won’t. Emanual knows exactly where he is but wouldn’t tell me. He says it’s payback time.”
I laughed. “What do you mean, knows where he is?” He wasn’t with his father at all.
“It’s called the hunt. You should come and have a look, Elena. Maybe today, then he will not break my record.”
“You sure about that?”
“Oh, Blake only has one weakness. And if that weakness was near, he would give everything up.”
My face glowed as he said that. “That is bad form.”
“I’m a desperate man, Princess.” He grinned. “So what do you say? Are you up for some fun?”
Seeing Blake tonight, telling him sorry face to face and….I smiled as I realized Sir Robert was still waiting for my answer.
“Okay, what do you want me to do?”
I PHONED EMANUAL.
“Elena,” he sighed. “I’m sorry about…”
“Can you take us to the Dragon League please?”
He squinted and then grinned like an idiot. “Let me guess, Sir Robert phoned to wish you a happy birthday and now it’s payback time.”
I laughed. “No, I called him ‘cause I couldn’t get a hold of Blake.”
He frowned. “Don’t tell me I got through to you last night?”
“Something like that,” I lied. “Besides he is still my dragon.”
“True.”
“So, are you going to take me or not?”
“Why do you want to go?” Emanual asked.
“It has nothing to do with you whatsoever,” I said and smiled at him.
“Oh, it does if it means you are going to fight with him more.”
“I’m done fighting, okay? I know he didn’t do it. I was an idiot. So please, I’m begging you. I really want to see him, preferably today.”
He pulled his mouth and just stared at me.
I tried to ignore it. “Are you going to take us or do I need to get directions from Sir Robert?”
“Nope, I’ll meet you at the palace in half an hour. I was just about to go there myself. I’m errand boy.” I laughed and the connection was broken.
I went downstairs. I knew Becky was dying to see George and she would definitely come with.
“Hey,” I popped me head around the corner of the living room and found her on the couch reading a magazine.
She looked up. “So what are we going to do today on your birthday?”
“How about we go to the Dragon League?” He eyes rose and she jumped up.
“Are you serious?”
I nodded. “But it means that tonight is not going to happen at Longbottoms.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’ve waited for this for like forever.” She ran up the stairs while yelling at her mom that we were not going to be here tonight, but will be back in time for that stupid interview with Just Kev tomorrow.
I went to my room and phoned Sammy. She was just as excited because she’d wanted to check out what the Dragon League was all about. She said that she and Dean would meet us at the palace in twenty minutes.
Becky was giddy, she’d gotten her spark back and wanted to phone George but he was also disconnected completely.
“Why can’t I get through to him?” She sulked.
“It’s called the hunt. I have no idea what it’s all about,” I explained as we said goodbye to Lucille and climbed into my car.
The drive to the palace wasn’t a long one.
“The hunt. What are they actually hunting something?”
“I don’t know Becky, I’m sure Emanual will be able to tell us more.”
“I missed his ass so much. You think he is still upset with me? Wait, I know I shouldn’t be asking this, but yesterday you were still so upset with Blake.”
I smiled. “I’m not anymore, okay.”
“He cheated on you, Elena.”
“He didn’t Becky,” I spoke softly.
“How do you know?”
“Because…” I took a deep sigh and grunted. “You are going to think badly of me.”
She just gave me her raised eyebrow.
“Don’t tell Sammy, please.”
“Spit it out.”
“Mr. Dalton didn’t just give me my suit that day, he also gave me Blake’s journal that he’d left there.”
“What?” Becky sat up straight and stared at me. “His journal, the one he’s always writing in?”
I nodded.
“Do you know how he searched for that? He panicked like crazy.”
“Why? Nobody can open it.”
“They can’t?”
I pulled my face, “Well, almost nobody.”
“You opened it?”
“I know, I shouldn’t have, but yes, I found a way and no I’m not telling you what is inside. Well I’ll tell you about one thing.”
She just stared at me.
“He wrote something that I think is about the Dent. It still doesn’t make sense, but it’s not a spell, I think.”
“What is it, did he say what happens?”
“Shield can be penetrated, Becks.”
“Okay, fine. Told you it wasn’t a stupid spell.”
She lay back in her chair, contentment on her face. “It’s real.”
WE FOUND EMANUAL with Sammy and Dean already waiting for us.
We climbed into the famous Range Rover and Emanual took us to the Dragon League. It was about a three-hour drive from the palace, and stationed in front of a huge forest. What was new?
The Creepers had destroyed half of the forest so these dragons were really playing on Death’s doorstep.
“So what is this hunt about?” Becky asked and Emanual laughed from behind the steering wheel.
“Elena, if you want to see Blake tonight, there is only one way to do it.”
“How?”
“By going after his team’s flag.”
“His flag, what flag?”
“Oh, the Dragon League training is all about strategy and teamwork. One team gets a flag. They have to guard that flag with everything they’ve got. If one of the other teams claims your team’s flag, you have to retreat to home base, wait two days and try again.”
“So what, they like camp out while protecting a flag?” It sounded so stupid.
“Yes, they are supposed to hunt and
find fresh water, all of those things.”
I laughed as I realized what he meant by errand boy. “You take them supplies, don’t you?”
“Only Blake’s team. It’s about time someone broke his father’s record, but now that you are here, I doubt that is going to happen.”
I smiled as I looked out the window.
“Sounds like fun,” Becky said.
“Blake’s team has been in the woods for the past six weeks.”
“What?” both Becky and I said.
“Oh, they are on a mean streak.”
I laughed. “How is he doing?”
“Really good. Loves every minute of the Dragon League, George and him, they are naturals. Found the other teams flags in record time too. It helps if you have a Moon-Bolt on your team.”
Becky glowed with pride as he said that. “But they are like two sulking pups when they don’t do anything,” Emanual said and we both smiled at each other.
“Well, he’s my sulking pup,” Becky said and I laughed softly.
“So, is he forgiven?”
“Yes, he is forgiven. Are you going to help me find his flag?”
He gasped. “What kind of a dragon you think I am?”
“The kind that is true to his word. What were they again? Oh you will always be my princess, Elena.”
Everyone in the SUV laughed, even Dean. Emanual grinned at me in the rearview mirror.
“You really said that?” Dean asked, from the passenger seat.
Emanual’s smile disappeared. “Shut up.”
All of us couldn’t help but crack up. It was a really good trip. “Fine, I’ll tell you were it is, but you are going to have to work for it.” He looked at me though his rearview mirror again. “You are just like your father. He got Sir Robert’s flag the day he set the record.”
“That is why he knows this will work?”
“Yip.”
We finally reached the base. It was a farmhouse and had an entire boot camp obstacle course a couple of yards away from it. Teams were busy training.
“See, I told you it was sort of a boot camp.” Becky left her two-cent comment.
“This is how everyone starts out. Two weeks of drilling and then you get your team, and off you go.”
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